Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Klondike and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; dark yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 95 to 110 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot; and semi-spreading branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Klondike.

Klondike is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with decorativecapitulum type, with yellow ray floret color, with eight or nine weekflowering response, and with the ability to produce commerciallyacceptable quality in year-round pot mum programs. Such traits incombination were not present in previously available commercialcultivars.

Klondike was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program in Barberton, Ohio in 1974. The female parent was anunnamed yellow decorative seedling (#70048004) originated by the presentinventors from a hybridization of Mandalay (unpatented; commerciallyavailable). and Sunstar (unpatented; commercially available). The maleparent of Klondike was an unnamed yellow decorative seedling (#70031002)originated by the present inventors from a hybridization of two unnamedseedlings (#67492008 and #67491010).

Klondike was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E.Duffett on Nov. 18, 1975 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Klondike was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February1976 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio, by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Walter H.Jessel, Jr. and William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination ofselected units initiated Nov. 7, 1977 has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Klondike arefirmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Klondike has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength. Theobservations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown inBarberton, Ohio and in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Klondike which in combination distinguishthis chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form;

(2) Decorative capitulum type;

(3) Dark yellow ray floret color, with minimal color oxidation;

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 96 to 110 mm. atmaturity;

(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(6) Tall plant height (requiring 1-2 long day weeks prior to pinch andshort days, and two applications 2500 ppm B-9 SP 7 to 14 days after thebeginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 30 to 45cm.); and

(7) Semi-spreading branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Klondike, with the colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a colorphotograph of a specimen plant of Klondike. Sheet 2 is a black and whitephotograph showing three views of the inflorescence of Klondike. Sheet 3is a black and white photograph of the foliage of Klondike at threestages of growth.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to Klondike is Tip, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 3,867. Reference is made to attached Chart A which comparescertain characteristics of Klondike to those same characteristics ofTip. In general comparison to Tip, Klondike has lighter ray floretcolor, longer form retention, smaller diameter across face of capitulum,and longer flowering response period. The capitulum form, capitulumtype, branching pattern, and plant height of Klondike are similar tothose same characteristics of Tip.

In the following description color references are made to A Limit ColorCascade, by the Munsell Company, 1972 edition. The color values weredetermined between 8:30 and 9:00 A.M. on Apr. 29, 1980 under 125foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Klondike.

Commercial: Pinched disbudded decorative pot plant.

I. INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--95 to 110 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Dark yellow27-6 to 27-4.

Color (abaxial).--27-6 oxidizing to 27-3.

Color (adaxial).--27-4 to 27-2.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant to few; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both disc and ray florets; normal chrysanthemum.

II. PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Tall (pot mum culture).

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--Between 20-15 and 20-13 with more gray.

Color (adaxial).--19-13 overlaid with white.

Shape.--Slightly lobed; slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF KLONDIKE AND TIP                                                ______________________________________                                                             CAPITULUM                                                         RAY FLORET  FORM        BRANCHING                                    CULTIVAR COLOR       AND TYPE    PATTERN                                      ______________________________________                                        KLONDIKE Dark Yellow Flat        Semi-                                                             Decorative  spreading                                    TIP      Golden      Flat        Semi-                                                 Yellow      Decorative  spreading                                                         Relexing at                                                                   maturity                                                 ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER                FLOWERING                                             ACROSS FACE   PLANT     RESPONSE                                     CULTIVAR OF CAPITULUM  HEIGHT    PERIOD                                       ______________________________________                                        KLONDIKE 95 to 110 mm. Tall      9 week                                       TIP      135 to 140 mm.                                                                              Tall      8 week                                       ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS PINCHED DISBUDDED PLANTS GROWN IN         BARBERTON, OHIO AND IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA.                              

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., plant known by the cultivar name Klondike, as described andillustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by thecombined characteristics of flat capitulum form; decorative capitulumtype; dark yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulumranging from 95 to 110 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week floweringresponse; tall plant height; and semi-spreading branching pattern.